I was wondering if the Icelandic volcano was, perhaps, socialist? Communist? It certainly doesn’t seem to respect private property rights — or gun laws. It looks like it treats everyone very equally, regardless of class/political persuasions. I’m expecting a Tea Party demonstration against it any day.

Neil Haverstick, Lakewood

It seems impossible for Tea Partyers to leave out the assertion that they are the “real Americans” and the “genuine patriots.” There’s a word for that kind of arrogance: “elitist.”

Robert Ellis, Aurora

Airlines have opted to charge for nearly every fragment of service. Now, at least one airline will charge a gouging fee for carry-on bags. What is next? Ten cents per pound of body weight per mile flown?

Carol Wuerz, Aurora

The Denver Post Editorial Board reports approvingly that “nearly every public college and university in the country bans student possession of concealed weapons.” Yes, and it works beautifully: It gave us Virginia Tech. It even gave us Columbine. I rest my case.

K.A. Skala, Denver

These letters were published in the April 25 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here[1].

As for Mr. Ellis' note: Elitist – they do think of themselves as the True Americans – but down at the Tea Party Tax Day rally on the 15th, they looked like a bunch of bored retired people that were bad artists.And there weren't very many people there at that.

#2 Comment By Robtf777 On April 25, 2010 @ 1:01 am

“It seems impossible for Tea Partyers to leave out the assertion that they are the “real Americans” and the “genuine patriots.” There’s a word for that kind of arrogance: “elitist.”””Elitists” are those of the Liberal Left…..who “know” they are more educated and far more “knowledgeable” than those on the Religious Right.Don't believe me? Just read the Liberal Left's comments to almost any letter from someone their perceive as being an “uneducated Religious Righty.”

#3 Comment By Claude_Garfield On April 25, 2010 @ 1:03 am

All we have to do is read your letters to know we are right.

#4 Comment By Robtf777 On April 25, 2010 @ 1:05 am

“Airlines have opted to charge for nearly every fragment of service. Now, at least one airline will charge a gouging fee for carry-on bags. What is next? Ten cents per pound of body weight per mile flown?”How about pay-toilets…..and dispensers that dispense toilet paper by the sheet.Thirsty? Cup of water: 50 cents.Pillow and blanket? $1.00 each to rent them.Free music will be replaced by pay-music…..and headphones will be extra unless you have your own.Oh wait…..I think I've given them too many ideas already.

#5 Comment By Robtf777 On April 25, 2010 @ 1:09 am

“The Denver Post Editorial Board reports approvingly that “nearly every public college and university in the country bans student possession of concealed weapons.” Yes, and it works beautifully: It gave us Virginia Tech. It even gave us Columbine. I rest my case.”Gun bans ONLY insure that law-breakers have guns to prey on the unarmed law-abiding victims.That's why ARMED criminals are both ARMED and criminal…..and why unarmed law-abiding victims are BOTH unarmed and law-abiding.Hitler would be proud of the Liberal Left.

#6 Comment By bellle On April 25, 2010 @ 1:21 am

Solid arguments, worth considering. Thanks.

#7 Comment By peterpi On April 25, 2010 @ 4:35 am

Robtf, everyone who is a naturalized citizen or who is born here is an American. Period Everyone who loves this country and wants to improve it is a patriot. Period! Regardless of their politics or religious views.I applaud Robert Eliis' remarks. I loathe the conservatives, political or religious, and Tea Parteirs for appropriating “patriot” and patriotic garb, like tricorner hats, “Don't Tread on Me”, etc., exclusively for themselves.”All liberals are traitors” makes Ann Coulter and Mike Rosen very wealthy and makes conservatives feel sanctimonious and smug, but it is a vile libel! You and your pals don't own this country, don't own a monopoly on patriotism or wanting to make this country better.

#8 Comment By Robtf777 On April 25, 2010 @ 6:52 am

“I was wondering if the Icelandic volcano was, perhaps, socialist? Communist?”Maybe it was….like with the earthquakes in Haiti, Chili, Baja California, and China…..like with the hurricanes…..like with the flooding in the New England States……another “birth pang”…..that will grow more intense and frequent…..as the End Times Jesus talked about….gets ever closer.It's actually ironic if you think about it: The one event that supposedly ushers in the End Times is that Middle East Peace Treaty with Israel…….and what is the One Thing the Whole Entire (non-Muslim) World wants to see? That ever-so-elusive Middle East Peace Treaty with Israel.Much of the (non-Muslim) world…..denies the End Times will ever be a reality….as the (non-Muslim) world actually seeks the one event — that Peace Treaty — that usher in the End Times.It's as if the Entire World…..can't avoid fulfilling Biblical Prophesy….even if it tried to.

#9 Comment By Claude_Garfield On April 25, 2010 @ 12:24 pm

Scared of ARMED CRIMINALS and Armageddon and Liberals!And it seems our prolific purveryor of nonsense must have read The Classics Illustrated on Adolf Hitler. Posts are full of the conservative's poster boy.

#10 Comment By Claude_Garfield On April 25, 2010 @ 1:50 pm

Wait a minute!I thought the fundamentalist religious right thought it was women's immodest dress that was causing the earthquakes.

#11 Comment By CLucanor On April 25, 2010 @ 2:24 pm

Peace Treaty ushering in the End Times? How on Earth did you come up with that?

#12 Comment By Claude_Garfield On April 25, 2010 @ 3:21 pm

Get a comfortable chair, something cool to drink and watch:[2]…

#13 Comment By theoldgrouch On April 25, 2010 @ 5:22 pm

Well, those fruitcake fringe boys and girls DO have well-fertilized imaginations. One might even say, over-fertilized, at times.It's really amazing what grows in such rich and abundant night-soil, so freely spread abroad by their gurus, panjandrums, and poobahs on a regular, weekly, basis.

#14 Comment By theoldgrouch On April 25, 2010 @ 5:38 pm

But, they're surely trying hard to put everyone else down – and under – and take over what would be the spoils. Sanctiphonious piosity is the hallmark of true-believer. And there is no sanctiphony like “patriotism” as sanctiphony – to slightly mangle an old Broadway tune,Anyone remember old Joe Mc Carthy, the Hollywood Blacklist, Turncoat, and Backstabber, Ronnie the Raygun, and that ilk? Today's Absolutely-True-Red-White-And-Blue-Americans – such as Coulter, O'Lielly, Rosen, and that claque – are just clown manques; a bunch of imitation Charley McCarthy wannabes, parroting the nonsense and imbecilities of such 3rd rate Edgar Bergans as the big cheese, Mushmouth Limburger/Limbaugh.But, isn't it FUN to play “patriot”; all dressed up in imiatation Colonial Tricorne, with a tea bag hanging off it?At least the Society for Creative Anachronism, and the chain of Renaissance Fairs, have a great deal of “redeeming social value”; and TRY HARD to come close to historical TRUTH, while having good clean fun.

#15 Comment By Claude_Garfield On April 25, 2010 @ 5:42 pm

Not sure you'll agree but it seems to me that it is simply a power trip.Our friends tell us that “I know something you don't know, it is potentially damning so you better stick with me. Maybe I will tell you, maybe I won't but I am the only one who knows.”Just a cheap trick to show they are in charge. For goodness sakes, people have been predicting the end of the world for centuries and somehow, the old world just keeps bumbling along.

#16 Comment By peterpi On April 25, 2010 @ 6:20 pm

try this on for size, … Some fundamentalist/evangelical types love the Jews, or so they say. But they love the Jews (and Israel = only Jews in their opinion) for their own selfish purposes.For a significant number of them, the establishment of the State of Israel is a sign that the End Times and God's Kingdom is coming. They believe that during the End Times, terrible wars will take place, culminating in the Mother of All Battes, in Israel near Megiddo, that will kill all but 144,000 Jews. Then Jesus of Nazareth (or “the Christ”) returns, and the remaining Jews proclaim Jesus as Messiah. In other words, the remaining Jews will become Christian, andther will be no Jews left. Then Paradise arrives.Therefore, God has blessed Israel, and any effort by the USA or Israelis and Palestiians or whomever to find a just and lasing peace is Evil. Evil, because Israel must not cede one square nanometer of territory, or God will be mad.This entire scenario is dependent on Israel retaining all captured Arab or Palestinian territory, or God will get angry and take His/Her marbles home. Peace treaty = no end times = no Rapture = no heaven and no Paradise.Now, I don't recall God's timetable being set by humans, but these people apparently believe it.

#17 Comment By Claude_Garfield On April 25, 2010 @ 6:31 pm

It all sounds vaguely Wagnerian – ala Götterdämmerung.

#18 Comment By randallgoodwin On April 25, 2010 @ 6:50 pm

Just plain scared. These guys are the most pitiful insecure people on the face of the planet, especially considering how good they have it.

#19 Comment By bellle On April 25, 2010 @ 7:27 pm

Peterpi….where did you come up with this??? It doesn't sound like anything in the Bible.

#20 Comment By bellle On April 25, 2010 @ 7:27 pm

Claude & Randall…..why the attacks??

#21 Comment By Claude_Garfield On April 25, 2010 @ 7:54 pm

Some recent foreplay rants. . . 1) “Elitists” are those of the Liberal Left…..who “know” they are more educated and far more “knowledgeable” than those on the Religious Right.2) Gun bans ONLY insure that law-breakers have guns to prey on the unarmed law-abiding victims.That's why ARMED criminals are both ARMED and criminal…..and why unarmed law-abiding victims are BOTH unarmed and law-abiding.Hitler would be proud of the Liberal Left.3) Liberals do NOTHING but TALK, TALK, TALK. They have NO SOLUTION…… 4) Liberals are a Criminals best friend; the LAST thing a Criminal actually wants is ARMED Victims and Witnesses……who actually might KILL THEM. 5) Typical Liberal Thinking: A study was done that showed that high school athletes are far less obese than non-high school athletes.What does the Liberal do? Passes Laws demanding that high school athletes be given better nutrition and dietary guidelines.That is basically the SAME “logic” Liberals use when they want to disarm Law-Abiding people: The Problem is NOT with the Laaw-Abiding People.Not attacking you – you never say anything worth attacking.

#22 Comment By Anonymous On April 26, 2010 @ 1:58 am

can you quote ONE time when Mike Rosen ever said “All liberals are traitors”? I will tell you the answer, NEVER. If you think you have a valid point, don’t muck it up by saying something that dumb.

#23 Comment By Anonymous On April 26, 2010 @ 2:06 am

Like peterpi, you cannot prove that Mike Rosen parrots nonsense. He is much more measured in his discussions of politics then you’ve ever been. His program is balanced and his approach is thoughtful and well documented. Try listening before lumping him in with the others you listed.

#24 Comment By theoldgrouch On April 26, 2010 @ 1:11 am

Obviously, our resident wannabe Elmer Gantry hasn't clued you in on the figment of his own imagination that has the secret Jack Armstrong Decoder Ring that gives him the “key” by which to “interpret” the Book of Revelations – or the “prediction of Armageddon”, as he seems to fantasize it being.Shouldn't you ardent bibliolators get together, and try to explain a page or few to each other as you go along?

#25 Comment By theoldgrouch On April 26, 2010 @ 1:21 am

I do agree. As something of a side issue – one might even say, “bonus” – it also all serves as a sufficient kind of “power trip” to sustain the very fragile and sensitive ego(s) that are so far, Far, FAR out of touch with reality to begin with.After all, if they can feel “empowered” to criticize you, and me, for not buying into their cheap tricks, they can also claim to be “in charge” of even the most severe areas of decompensation and dysfunction they demonstrate every time they are challenged, or asked a question they can't answer.Or, as the old saying has it: “Belssed are they who go round and round in circles, for they shall be known as wheels.”And, this pair is well known for their pretence to being the biggest wheels in all of what they call, “christianity”, even knowing all about other people's futures in “eternity” – if others don't bow down before them, of course.

#26 Comment By peterpi On April 26, 2010 @ 1:32 am

bellle, start with “The Late Great Planet Earth”. Also, try using your favorite web browser to look up “end times Jews Israel”. Sources including CNN and the New Yorker have written about it. I also heard it from a fundamentalist Christian minister. You don't like those sources? I'm sure there's conservative sources who can confirm this.bellle, it's a combination of some people's interpretation of things St. Paul wrote (which some interpret as the Rapture) and what's written in the Book of Revelation. You can say the Bible doesn't say that, but the Book of Revelation is deliberately written using analogies, parables, mystical visions, etc., (so as to confuse the ancient Roman censors) that modern religious believers can find almost anything in it.I'm not saying all conservative Christians believe what I wrote, but a significant number do.And it's all because a group of secular Jews established the State of Israel. Throw in the Six Day War, which some conservative Christians see as nothing more than a divine miracle. I don't believe that for a second, I believe it was tactical surprise, a pre-emptive strike, and superior use of technology. But they believe a divine miracle took place.

#27 Comment By thorjohnson On April 26, 2010 @ 2:10 am

Sounds a lot like the well-fertilized imaginations of the far left. we've had this conversation before, but you will never admit that both extremes are far out there. So sad.

#28 Comment By thorjohnson On April 26, 2010 @ 2:26 am

Of all the misstatements you made, only one deserves attention. the reason Christians support Israel is simple, Jesus was a Jew. we respect the Jewish faith because we believe the Savior came from them, through the lineage that came from Adam, through Abraham, David and his descendants, Joseph and Mary.

#29 Comment By peterpi On April 26, 2010 @ 6:18 am

thorjohnson, ” the reason Christians support Israel is simple, Jesus was a Jew. we respect the Jewish faith”? Yep. You respect us so much, you try to convert us. Or make a pretend Judaism like the “Messianic Jews” movement. What is a Jew called who believes Jesus of Nazareth is the messiah and the Son of God? A Christian.You respect us so much, you keep forever frozen the 2,000 year old stereotypes in the Gospels. You respect us so much, some of your preachers teach that God doesn't hear the prayers of the Jews. You repect us so much, others preach that Judaism is a dead religion.Do you know what halachah is? What the Talmud is? Do you know the major divisions (denominations) of modern Judiasm? What the disputes are between Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Judaism?Instead of seeing Judaism only as the gateway through which Jesus came, instead of seeing Jews as means to the End Times, how about seeing Jews and Judaism solely as who they are, respecting Jews by leaving us alone, and respecting our right to worship God as we see fit, just as virtually all Jews would allow Christians to worship as they see fit.

#30 Comment By Anonymous On April 26, 2010 @ 3:39 pm

Perhaps you will deign to enlighten us as to just what the other “extreme” is, and give us a few concrete examples of its existence; since you are so well versed in what others “should know”, and/or “admit”.

I have listened to him, sonny. I have also read his columns, both in the Post before he went over to the Rocky Mountain News and after they took him back. He is totally predictable, and he does parrot, over and over, again and again, the same old same old “conservative” notions. Read him once – or hear him once – and you’ve read/heard him endlessly.

Granted, he’s not quite as vituperative as Coulter, for instance; and he’s somewhat less given to just shouting over his “guests” from the other “side” than some, and then switching to either a commercial or his own monologue, such as Limbaugh – who may have “mellowed”, slightly – and, he can, at times, appear “thoughtful”, so long as one recognizes the simple fact that his “documentation” is nearly always drawn from totally one-sided sources, and includes things that side latches on to without any pretense of “thought” to begin with. Which, for a “conservative”, might make him appear to be outstanding. And, as a local “fixtture”, he’s as much of an icon of “conservatism” as can be found here.

All that said, however, I’ve expressed my opinion. And you have expressed yours. At which point of stalemate, there is nothing further necessary.

#32 Comment By Anonymous On April 26, 2010 @ 3:56 pm

I have listened to him, sonny. I have also read his columns, both in the Post before he went over to the Rocky Mountain News and after they took him back. He is totally predictable, and he does parrot, over and over, again and again, the same old same old “conservative” notions. Read him once – or hear him once – and you’ve read/heard him endlessly.

Granted, he’s not quite as vituperative as Coulter, for instance; and he’s somewhat less given to just shouting over his “guests” from the other “side” than some, and then switching to either a commercial or his own monologue, such as Limbaugh – who may have “mellowed”, slightly – and, he can, at times, appear “thoughtful”, so long as one recognizes the simple fact that his “documentation” is nearly always drawn from totally one-sided sources, and includes things that side latches on to without any pretense of “thought” to begin with. Which, for a “conservative”, might make him appear to be outstanding. And, as a local “fixtture”, he’s as much of an icon of “conservatism” as can be found here.

All that said, however, I’ve expressed my opinion. And you have expressed yours. At which point of stalemate, there is nothing further necessary.

#33 Comment By Claude_Garfield On April 26, 2010 @ 12:56 pm

I agree with Peterpi.Christians respect Jews? How absurd.Christianity has been relentless in their persecution of the Jews. For 2000 years.Beyond the Inquisitions, one has to consider marginalization of Jews in society(tax collectors, money lenders), subject of comedy in literature, the St. Louis affair, the Dreyfus affair, crypto-jews in the US southwest, Jews couldn't join country clubs, etc.Even as late as last year I was talking with a sometime Christian acqaintance. The Israelis and the Palestinians were having one of their periodic flareups. I thought the Isralis were right on this one and he said “What about the Jews, they killed our Lord Jesus Christ?”For starters he is wrong, our sins killed Jesus Christ, but to hear this rank, putrid anti-semitism come out of this guy's mouth was stunning. And here I thought we were making progress.

#34 Comment By Anonymous On April 26, 2010 @ 6:06 pm

thor johnson, every once in a while, Mike Rosen runs a “liberals are bad, conservatives are good” column that lists a series of comparisons. Typical columnist “My mind is blank, so I’ll churn something out” type column. Those columns inevitably say conservatives are patriots and liberals are not. Liberals are marxists and conservatives are capitalists. Liberals worship the State and conseratives fear it. On and on like that for the length of the column. Sentence after sentence of truly brainlessly simplistic conclusions. Has he used the word “traitor”? I don’t know, but he comes so close to implicitly saying it, he may as well do so.

#35 Comment By Anonymous On April 26, 2010 @ 6:06 pm

thor johnson, every once in a while, Mike Rosen runs a “liberals are bad, conservatives are good” column that lists a series of comparisons. Typical columnist “My mind is blank, so I’ll churn something out” type column. Those columns inevitably say conservatives are patriots and liberals are not. Liberals are marxists and conservatives are capitalists. Liberals worship the State and conseratives fear it. On and on like that for the length of the column. Sentence after sentence of truly brainlessly simplistic conclusions. Has he used the word “traitor”? I don’t know, but he comes so close to implicitly saying it, he may as well do so.

#36 Comment By holyreality On April 26, 2010 @ 2:24 pm

If I remember my end times story right, it is a big temple, currently mosque in Jerusalem that needs to be destroyed and rebuilt, before the antichrist and the lamb can do battle. The Jews all need to die at some point after the rapture when all 144,000 good Christians are lifted into heaven, dead family members will too lift out of their graves to enter paradise with the faithful. For everybody else its too late, and they get to dance with the four horsemen and other fun stuff.:D All it takes to negate the end times is a peace treaty? Now that is a hope I can believe in:P

#37 Comment By theoldgrouch On April 26, 2010 @ 3:06 pm

Good luck in teaching sense, tolerance, and intelligent understanding to a fruitcake fringe preacher!

#38 Comment By theoldgrouch On April 26, 2010 @ 3:08 pm

As I said to peterpi: “Good luck in teaching sense, tolerance, and intelligent understanding to a fruitcake fringe preacher!

#39 Comment By theoldgrouch On April 26, 2010 @ 3:32 pm

Sort of one of those “chicken or egg” situations, maybe? The mythology of many groups contains a kind of “End Times” scenario; some by way of explanation for the present status of human kind – as with Native American myths concerning the previous “destructions” of past worlds, and “emergence” of the people into this world – and others as a kind of “prophecy” for the “tribe/cultural-entity” – as with those from which Wagner drew his inspiration.The next “big one” – Nostradamus having sort of “fallen off the top 20 charts”, so to speak, will be, most probably, built on the “end” of the Mayan Calendar in 2012. Indeed, one can find materials on the book-store shelves with this “End of the World” saga as the major theme already. And, this one, being “closer to home”, so to speak – in the Western Hemisphere – seems to be much more attractive to those for whom a rousing fantasy-story/sci-fi-soap-opera is necessary as an excuse for their own lack of meaningful lives and living. Vide: The current trend towards “Scientology”, old Hubbard's un-saleable sci-fi writings turned into “Scriptures” – and peddled to the witlings, dolts, and simpletons for large chunks of cash per “grade of advancement” in the wickiup, along with “clearing one's engrams” by way of the tin-can “E-meter”.There is always something about the – juvenile(!) – “tree-house club” that captures those who never really want to grow up; and for whom the idea of “maturity” is as daunting as “death and eternity”. And, there will always be those with some form of Jack Armstrong Secret Decoder Ring, ready and willing to skin the hide off those who just have to have that “Gnosis” – and “tree-house club” membership and identification – that “means” they are . . . “better” . . . than others.You pays your money, and you takes your choice. The Midway of life is full of flat-joints, and the con men, bunko artists, and operators who run them.

#40 Comment By theoldgrouch On April 26, 2010 @ 3:39 pm

Perhaps you will deign to enlighten us as to just what the other “extreme” is, and give us a few concrete examples of its existence; since you are so well versed in what others “should know”, and/or “admit”.Mere assertions – as with your pal, bellle – don't “cut the mustard”, sonny.

#41 Comment By Anonymous On April 26, 2010 @ 11:44 pm

You assert, I assert. Which one of us is supposed to bring proof. I still say that the “extremes” on both sides are similar in the stridency but different in what drives them. You can deny all you want, but it won’t change a thing. That’s why I argue from center-right. My points may not meet your approval, but they are not extreme.

#42 Comment By Anonymous On April 27, 2010 @ 1:09 am

To begin with, sonny, I’m under no obligation whatsoever to “admit” anything. What is sad about it all is your continuing arrogance in expecting me to pay attention to your Bell-type whines, moans, and snivels about what I write, and how it write it. I don’t give a whistle up a rainspout what your notions about “extreme(s)” are; and I write from my own standpoint, not from one selected for me by someone who wants to hear things differently.

Now, since you seem to be acting like a child, perhaps it’s time to go tell your Mommy she needs you.

#43 Comment By Anonymous On April 27, 2010 @ 1:23 am

I agree with everything you say and expect the same in return. All I’m saying is that there is two sides to every issue and, if you think you have the better argument, prove it. If not, then consider it an opinion, which is all I’m giving, and that’s good enough. There’s no need to think I want anything more than fair give and take. YOU ARE THE ONE ALWAYS MAKING DEMANDS FOR PROOF, NOT ME.

#44 Comment By thorjohnson On April 26, 2010 @ 11:44 pm

You assert, I assert. Which one of us is supposed to bring proof. I still say that the “extremes” on both sides are similar in the stridency but different in what drives them. You can deny all you want, but it won't change a thing. That's why I argue from center-right. My points may not meet your approval, but they are not extreme.

#45 Comment By theoldgrouch On April 27, 2010 @ 1:09 am

To begin with, sonny, I'm under no obligation whatsoever to “admit” anything. What is sad about it all is your continuing arrogance in expecting me to pay attention to your Bell-type whines, moans, and snivels. I don't give a whistle up a rainspout what your notions about “extreme(s)” are; and I write from my own standpoint, not from one selected for me by someone who wants to hear things differently.

#46 Comment By thorjohnson On April 27, 2010 @ 1:23 am

I agree with everything you say and expect the same in return. All I'm saying is that there is two sides to every issue and, if you think you have the better argument, prove it. If not, then consider it an opinion, which is all I'm giving, and that's good enough. There's no need to think I want anything more than fair give and take. YOU ARE THE ONE ALWAYS MAKING DEMANDS FOR PROOF, NOT ME.